Confection-dipping machine



Jan. 15, 1929.

' P. slsco GONEEGTION DIPPING MACHINE Fil'ed April 22, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Jan. 15, 1929.

1,699,315 P. slsco CONFECTION DIPPING MACHINE F l p l 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Sisco.

Figure 4 Patented Jan. 15, 1929..

rn'rnn smco, or cmoaeo, ILLINOIS, 1 l

OO'NFECTIGK-DIPPING MACHINE.

i Application filed April 22,

p The present invention relates to acandy dipping machine,and has particularly to do with a device for ap lying fondantor other coatings of a high using pointor havingn sugar as a principal ingrcdlent.

Among the objects of the invention are: a

The production of a device capable of covering centers with hot or"cold coatings;

The application of means for distinctly marking the coated finished pieces for identification as the product o f the" machine;

The coordination of the several elements of a candy coatimr, machine whereby each coated piece is sufficiently hardened in the machine before discharged therefrom;

The combination of several mechanisms, including the clipping and discharge elements, whereby a synchronously operated device is obtained; v p p The provision of novel and improved meclu anisms for dipping centers, and discharge'and conveying means associated therewith synchronou'sly actuated;

The provision of lllBGl'ltllllSlI-lSl for providingintermittent related l1l0tlOIlS,t'lll(l for synchronizing associated steps in candy manufacture; A H i p The production of a discharge means adapted to eject the coated pieces without jarring or distortionyand V a a The improvement, in general, of candy coating or dipping mechanisms;

These, and such other objectsas may hereinatterapl'iear are attained by the construction, combination, and arrangement of the various elen'ients of the device, hereinafter described and full y illustrated in the accour panying drawings made apart ot'this speci fication, and in which 2+- Figure lis a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention, part of the discharge table being. broken away Figure 2 is an elevation o t thc opposite side, part of the ears being omitted and the discharge table eing broken away at its center;

Figure 3- a somewhat diagrammatic rep resentation of the travelof the dipping haskets; M

Figure skis a perspective of a portion oi the dipping basketbelt 7 r Figure 5 is a section showing a diflerent form of basket cover thanthat illustrated i1 and lends l'lglClllDXtO the tra ne work.

1924. Serial No. 708,133.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary topvieW partie ularly illustrating the basket arrangement;

Figure't' is atransverse elevation showing thetable lifting mechanism and the discharge hammers; i i

FiguresBnnd 9 are sectionstaken atright angles show ng the hammer actuat1ngmech anism; and

Figure 10 mechanism. p a

In the description which follows and win the drawings, similar parts are indicated,

identical reference char acters.

A suitable frame havia f m enlarged top section and comprisingap rality of upri ht and cross membersfll) and 2'1 is arrange j-jto is a theftable p provide a platform for the ippinglnieeha f nisin and to support the reservoir QLltlllkTOI the. coating nater'ia l, Ateach sideof the" traine and in'tern'iedlate upright and cross members andQl are side members ilfiand nalled. a a i v v 1 t A tanlt or reservoir 24 of V-shape across the frame and 1s secured: tou

:itends lights:

pon thet op of the fi'ztnieis disposcfl' endless belt comprisingmainly the confec= tion baskets, such binshefibihg devised to convey the uncoated confection;centers]from one end of the machine, hereifitrfter catl'ledthe loading end, throt'iglrthe coating" material 1y directed lugs 28 upon which are secured wedge shape blocksfl for ning the end piecesof each row of baskets.

Rods 3'0 andll extending; the Width o flbeliti are rigidly securedattheir oppositeends to blocks 29, and a series ofst-raig'ht and curved Wires, 32 and 33, a;re secnred to s id rodsp t) and 31,- preferably by having their ends passed through apertures drilled in said rods to receivesaid wires and cl-inchedlthereabout; Between eachjpair of adjacent straight wires 1321s a transversely disposed curved wrre 34,suc'hwrreihaving a confignrp- L. Figures 4 audit, It will he tion or curve substantially. identical with Wire 33, to which it is preferably Welded or otherwise attached. ires 33 and form a curveddish or basket to receive the candy centers to be coated, the baskets extending the entire width of belt andbeing arranged. in

separated rows spaced by a number oi links ing end oi the machine, the righthand end.

ofliigure 1,. over roller 35 or other rotating bearings until over the edge of reservoir 2i, thence oownwardly thereinto, under a roller bearing 36 disposed insaid tank, up the opposite side over a roller bearing 37 and again in a horizontal course parallel to its first described course to the discharge end or the machine Where upon being invertedover a roller 38 the coated confection is discharged, thence backward over rollers 89, i0, 4-1 and 42 to the original loading" position in a course substantially parallel to but beneath the course of the loaded basket just described, said bearings 39, 40, and 41 keeping the lower section or unloaded portion of belt 25 separated from the upper layer or loaded section. Bearings 35, 36, 37, 39, 40 and 41 may be transverseshafts journalled in end pieces 22 and 23.

It can be readily perceived that the confection centers may he accidentally displaced from the baskets unless a ineansior covering said baskets during immersion of the centers in the confection coating in tank 2% is provided. Two types of covers are here disclosed.

In Figure 4, a hinged cover is illustrated.

A third rod 43, is arranged intermediate blocks 29 and is rotatably mountedtherein above rod 31. Projecting from said rod d3 in parallel relation are a plurality of substantially straight wires 4ft, each wire being passed through a hole drilled in said rod 43, after which the wires i lare clinched about said rod. The other end 01 wires a l is passed through a rod d5 the ends of which project beyond block 29 and are fastened to said rod in the same manner as to rod 4-3. A swinging coveris thus provided for each transverse row ofbaskcts, and a spring d6 coiled about rod 43 and having its ends anchored upon rod 31 and the end wire 44 maintains said cover normally in a closed position. At the loading end ofthe machine, a track comprising two sections 47 and 48 (see Figure 3) engages the outwardly projecting ends of rod 4-5, the first section 47, to swing said cover away rroin the baskets, and the second section 48 to maintain said cover in the position shown in Figure 4: While the operator is dropping candy centers into each of the baskets. It is manifest that as the belt 25 turns about bearing it is moving away from the end of'rod l?) which is impinging track all. hen the rod 45 disenitself from track H, the Whole cover is t ..iling the baskets which has passed beyond bearing 4:2. Track 1-8 serves only to keep said cover from being sprung forward until the loading oil. the row of baskets has been accomplished. lhe rod d5 disengages itself-from track 48 during forward move- Il'lGIllL of belt 25 and before said belt 25 begins its downward and immersing course in tank 24. As soon clear of track d8, the spring ll forces the cover into its normally closed relation to said basket, such closed position being maintained during the entire immersing of the centers and until just prior to the time the discharge of the confections from the machine is desired.

As each basket leaves the rosermir track 49 engages the projecting end oi rod during the remainder of the i'ipward movement oi the basket but when said basket be again its horizontal travel, the rod a5 is caused to trail the basket and the cover is opened wide by the horizontal movement of the basket away from the cover. hen the limit or? opening is reached b y the cover, the force of spring dGcausesthe rod 4:5 to dis engage itseltl from track a l). immediately upon disengagement from track d9,said rod i 45 engages a secondtrack 50 at its upturned Further advance or belt causes end 51. the rod 4-5 to travel downwardly on the under side of track end 51 and then horizon a ly under track 50 until the belt 25 rover travel around bearing' 38. Track is curved to correspond with the changed travel of belt 25 and the cover rod 15 is held back by said curved track until the coated contentions are discharged, which 'iuiloading occurs immediately the belt 25 starts its return journey. After the unloading of the baskets, the cover returns to normal position to so remain until track l? is again encountered.

T he second form of closure for the lnlskets is disclosed in Figure Such closure c0111 prises an endless belt 52 moving about three bearings 53, 5st, and 55, said belt comprising a plurality of spaced rods 56 intermediate which any desired meshing may be employed. Said belt 52 may be driven by the same prime mover actuating belt 25, such movement to be coincident with and at the speed of belt or, as illustrated, belt may be actuated by engagement of the transverse rods 30 and 31 of bolt 25 with the transverse rods 56 of the covering belt 52. Actual covering contact with the baskets in belt 25 had during the down and up movements of said belt but no contact had during; any of the horizontal movements of said belt.

It must be apparent from the nature or the machine and the work it performs that an Such track lifts the cover but slightly neoaem intermittent movement of belt is necessary, first to admit" of an opportunity to load the baskets, and second to obtain a satisfactory discharge of the contents of the baslrets, as will be shown later.

Power is applied to the machine through a transverse shaft 57 journalled inside plates 22 and 23. Any desired prime mover may be employed and suitable power connecting and disengaging means should be provided between the prime. mover and. shaft 57. Rotation of shaft 57 produces a constant rotation of gear wheel 58 to which said shaft 5'? is geared.

A pawl 59 is pivoted to one face of said wheel 58 and engages a ratchet 60 having plurality of rather large teeth, said'teeth alternately being engaged by the pawl 59. Driven by gearing rotated by ratchet 60- is a sprocket wheel 61 which drives a chain 62, which chain engages sprockets 63 and 64 at the ends of shaftstif) and 66 transversely ar-- ranged with respect to the frame of the ma. chine. At the opposite end of each of said shafts 65. and 66 a second sprocket, 6'7 and 68, is arranged, and a chain 69 is arranged intermediate said last mentioned sprockets.

lVith the rotation of shaft 57, gear 58 is rotated. Pawl 59 engages ratchet 60, and with each revolution of gear 58, the ratchet 60 is advanced one-sixth of a turn, said ratchet as shown having six teeth; The gearing carried by said ratchet is of course advanced one-sixth revolution and drives sprocket 61 a portion of arevolution predetermined by the ratio existing betweenthe meshing gears. Sprocket 61' drives chain 6:2 which infturn actuates shafts and 66. The chain 69 is in turn actuated by said shafts 65 and .66, which carry sprockets 70 meshing wit-h belt 25, and inthismanner give to said belt a periodically intermittent motion. The basskets upon belt 25 are so spaced that at each period of rest between the intermittent ac: tuations through sprockets 70, one row of baskets is open at the loading point in the upper horizontal plane adjacent shaft 66 (which may provide the bearing 42) while another row is open at the other end of the machine, said last mentioned row of baskets having passed about said shaft 65 which may provide the bearing 38 on the last previous advance of belt The remaining series of baskets are arranged at spaced intervals so that each actuation of the machine positions one row thereof for loading and another row thereof ready for discharge. Feeding of the machine may be by hand or by machine, as preferred.

As the uncoated confections pass into reservoir 24, they acquire a layer of the plastic or liquid material therein contained. The excess of such material runs off during the travel of the basket. upward and away from the reservoir 24. Reservoir 24 extends beneath that portion of belt 25 in horizontal position at the discharge end of the machine to receive drippings occurring during such travel. Drippings thus are I returned to the reservoir 2st to be used again. Any suitable heating appliance (none shownymay. be associated with the reservoirfi l to keepthe coating material at. a constant temperature as is necessary for uniform thicknesses of coatings. H i

The horizontal travel of belt 25 previous to reaching the discharge end of. the machine-is to admit of partial cooling or setting the: confection coating. It is manifest that such horizontal travel may be of anydesired extent to obtain a specific degreeof setting for the coating material. As the horizontal travel before discharge "occurs, a surface hardening is taking place. During such partial setting, the confection rests u ponthe crossed wires 33 and 34 Theconfection is discharged as an incident to the baskets being inverted, hence the portion of the. confection resting upon the crossed wires 33 and 34 forms the top thereof. The partialsetting occurring while the confection coating is cooling produces a crossmark on the tinished confection, such mark being themore or less pronounced according to the length of.

travel of the confection from emersion from the coating materialtodischarge ftom the baskets. Such a mark readily identifies the finished confection from a hand dippedpieca Although the coatingmaterial is partially HM by surface hardening when theconfections are discharged from: each rowxofwbaskets, the coatingidmaterial. is still so plastic that a drop or fall, or vibration, will .cause feet to form about the bottom thereof. Feet upon a confectionmay be definedas an excessive spreading of the coating Inaterial about the base of the confection to form an unsightly mass and creates too great a thickness of coating on a linewiththebottom thereof. y p i i In order todiseng'age the confect ons from the basket, in the event they are nclined to not adhere thereto as an incidenttopartialseb ting, a hammer mechanism or shaker is (he vised. i y i u For the hammer parts, see Figures 7 8 and 9, disclosing a rectangular frame disposed at the dischargeend of the coating machine (Figures 1 and At its lower end, said frame is pivoted to an oscillating arm 81 carried by uprights 20; Passing through the.

upper crossbar offframe 82 inhousings 83 provided therefor are two. reciprocating hammers 84, each of which is adapted to impinge block 29 when the frame 80 is lifted to its uppermost position. a J ournalled intlie side pieces of said frame 80 a shaft 85 carrying two disks 86having three equidistantly disposed rollers 87 QseeFignre; 7 and 8) adapted to engage alug88 on hammers dead center is reached.

8s at their lower ends. Such lug; 88 extends from the center of the lower end of hammer 8st to one edge thereof and is adapted to be impinged by rollers 87 upon disk 86 while lCll row of baskets rests for discharge thcreabove, and only after said frame has been raised to its highest position. The lowe end of hammers 84: is also slotted at 85) to allow the shaft 85 to freely rotate therein. In order to actuate the hammers 8t and to give them a constant and predetermined force, a coil spring is secured thereto and to the cross bar "A trigger or catch mechanism adapted to maintain the lugs 88 free from impinging contact with rollers 82'. and coinprisingr a pivoted. arm or trigger 91 engaging; the hammer ea an alever 92 secured to said pivoted arm 91 isnmunted upon frame 80 to hold the hammers 8 1 free from engagement with rollers 86 except during the uppermost position of frame 80. When in such uppermost position, the hammers 84L- intern'iittently impinge blocks 29, the lift of the hammers being that of the pull of rollers 83 from impinging lug 88 to disengagement when a Lovers 92 may be arranged to be moved in slots in frame 8t) provided therefor or may otherwise be suitably disposed upon said frame. As the frame 80 rises the outer end of said levs 92 is impinged by adjustable screws 93 affixed to the machine frame to force trigger 9i out of engagement with hammer 8%, thus relcasing said hammer to tap block 29. As frame 80 recedes, the lever disengages itself from screw93 and upon the hammer ea being forced down by one'of rollers 8'7, trigger 91 returns to its locking position, being so urged by a spring 9% anchored thereto and to frame 80. i

To obtain an intermittent raising and lowering of frame 80, a wedge shaped cam (Figure 10) engages pawl 59 at the point of its pivot, and is forced downwardly with each rotation ofgear 58. A lever 101 is secured intermediate the frame supporting arm 81 and-cam 100 said lever 101 being secured to the machine frame by a link 102. lVith each intermittent movement of belt 25, the frame 80 is lifted until the hammers 8-l approach blocks 29 when said hammers 8% are impinged by the rollers 87 on disks 86, said disks being rotated by shaft 85 constantly driven by a chain 85 intermediate the sprocket on said shaft 85 and a sprocket- 57 upon a gear wheel rotated by engagement with gearing, on shaft 57. A take-up pulley 103 carried by a lever 10% pivoted about the shaft carrying sprocket 57 and actuated by spring 105 anchored upon a cross member 21 removes such slack from said chain 85 as may be incident to the reciprocating movement of frame 80. The frame 80 approaches belt 25 concurrently with each intermittent advance of the latter, the tapping effect of hammers 8 1. not developing however until the belt 25 has come to rest. After a number of tapping-s, the hammers 81 are latched by the arm or trigger )1 against further movement until the next row of baskets is ready for discharge and frame 80 begins to fall. After a snort downward travel of fame 80 has taken place, belt again actuated.

To receirethedischarg, dcol1'lections,eithcr released from the baskets by the force of vity or dislodged therefrom by such force aided by the tapping of hammers 8 upon the blocks 29, a discharge and convcyer member comprises a table secured at one end by a pair of links and braclm 111 and 112. respectively, to frame 80. (l in'ure 7) and attached at its opposite end to pivoted hang:- ers 113 carried upon a standard 1141-.

Said standard also supports a. transverse shaft 115 to which a toothed wheel 116 is keyed. Said shaft 115 also carries a wide pulley 11'? about which an endless belt 118 travels, said belt 118 also travelling about a wide roller 119 at the opposite end of table 110. The direction of travel of said belt is such that the upper stratum mo tea from the discharge end of the coating machine towu rd the standard 11 1, the lower layer bong the return portion of the belt 118. As the table 110 is a-ecured. to'frame 80, the endless belt 118 is brought innnediate y under each discharpg ing row of baskets upon each upward movement of said frame 80, so close to said brackets that the coated confections drop. but a fraction of an inch if at all, in order to reach belt 11.8 travelling on table 110. To advance belt 1.18 after receiving each consecutive discharge from the baskets. a lever 120 is pivoted about shaft 115 and has at its upper enda pawl 121 engaging toothed wheel 11G. Said pawl 121 may be moved toward or away from wheel 116 to regulate the rotation of pulley 11'? and the advance of endless belt 118. The lower end of lever 120 is pivotally connected to a rod 122 actuated by shaft 57, whereby movement of pulley 117 is made concurrently with movmnent of belt 25, neither belt advancing until the frame 80 has dropped sulliciently, however, to allow the discharged confections to clear the baskets when moved away from the machine on belt 118. The link 111 permits of regulating the up and down movement of table 110, the upward movement of which is less than that of frame 80.

Although the operation of the machine should be manifest from the description preceding', for elucidation, the steps through which a batch of centers pass through the machine will be briefiy detailed.

A row of baskets upon an endless belt 25 is brought into horizontal loading position at one end of the n'iaehine, and a center is dropped into each basket. The belt 25 adrances until a second row of baskets in loading position, and is loaded. The belt 25 again advances and a third series of baskets is loaded. The baskets, after loading, are closed either by a spring cover as described, or by a second endless belt 52, and as the loading of additional rows of baskets continues, the first loaded row passes into and out of the reservoir 22L containing the liquid coating material. The cover for the baskets is removed or lifted and the coated confections travel toward the other end of the machine for dis charge. At the (liscl'iarge end of the machine, the baskets are inverted and the coated candy is discharged onto an endiess belt 118 supported by a table 111), said table being raised to substantially abut the baskets as they are inverted. Hammers 8-15; approach and strike the basket frames or blocks 29 While the belts 25 and 118 are stationary, dislodging any eonfection which is adhering to the baskets. 'l. he table 110 and hammers 8 t recede, to rise again upon the discharge of the next series oi baskets, the belt 25 begimiing its advance as soon as table 110 has receded sniii ciently to allow the completed candy pieces to be clear oi. the baskets.

, Endless belt 118 carries away rows of completed candies being intermittently advanced after the table 110 begins to recede. The candies are removed from belt 118 in any desired Way as the candies approach the standard 114, and may then be stored until packed and sold.

I clain 1. A candy coating machine comprising a frame, a plurality of baskets, a reservoir, a cover for said baskets, and discharge means comprising a conveyor, :1 frame. supporting said conveyor, a hammer, actuating means for said hannner, and a latch member for said hammer, and means for releasing said latch member incident to the movement of said conveyor frame.

A candy dipping machine comprising a frame, a plurality of baskets, a reservoir, a cover for said baskets, a hammer, actuating means to selectively etfect engagement between said. hammer and baskets, and a shaft having a disc provided with a plurality of spaced rollers upon one face thereof, said rollers impinging said hammer incident to the rotation of said shaft.

PETER SISCO. 

